How to lock a top loading backpack?

[joyjoy]

Hi pple,
I am leaving tomorrow and to my horror i just realised that there is no way i can lock up my backpack. It is top loading and hence do not have the zips that i can otherwise lock up. Please help!! Tks in advance!!

[Eagle]

JOYJOY, I don't have a definite answer to your question, especially considering the fact that you're leaving right away. I'd have to do a bit of research first, and it looks like there won't be time for that.

I have seen some posts on the web regarding this topic -- you might check the Activities & Gear section at thorntree.lonelyplanet.com -- I recall seeing some posts on securing top loading packs there. I believe there are some clips available somewhere (?) that allow the drawstrings of top loading packs to be secured. If you have side access pockets (some top loaders do have these), then these would have to be secured also.

For this particular trip you might have to resort to securing the whole pack inside a Hostel locker or whatever, rather than locking the pack itself. You might find something in luggage or travel shops at your destination, but this might take up valuable time from your vacation.

Good luck with this and have a great time on your trip!!!

[Kim]

I'm sure you are already gone but I want to add this anyway.

If you can't lock the main compartment, my suggestion would be keep that strictly for things like clothes, shampoo etc. Don't keep anything of value at anytime in a compartment that can't be locked.

If your bottle of shampoo goes missing, you can deal with that.

All your valuable papers and things like railpasses, tickets etc. should be carried in a moneybelt on you.

For those starting to look at packs, this is one thing to thing about. If the compartments don't have two zippers that meet that have a hole in them, it's near impossible to lock.

Kim

[MuvverRussia]

You can get these armoured mesh things that you can put your pack into before padlocking it (Pacsafe- www.blacks.co.uk/cgi-bin/blacks.filereader?409630f40413d4b4273fd43a3b400681+EN/products/9101699). That would stop people from slashing or opening your pack, although they are quite expensive.

[LHR02]

;D ;D

Oh....don't get Kim started on those things again!!

[jovial24]

Hi,
thanks for all the advice though a tad too late hee.. I went aheade with just 2 locks. One for the overhead and the other for the bottom zip. The bottom zip is pretty redundant since the contents can be reached by from the top. It was just to deter any potential thefts.

LUckily for me no such things happened to me and thank god!

[LHR02]

So...welcome back...and details, we want details!! ;D

[jovial24]

I will be glad to contribute to this site based on my experience.... wondering if i can add my comments to the list of hostels in here?

[jennifer]

Hey!
Always great to have opinions on hostels!
You can post your comments on the hostel page. If you go to the homepage of GFE, you'll see to the left the hostel section! You can then post your comments country by country, hostel by hostel!
This way everyone has access!
xoxo
Jen